Phantom Blade Zero Combat Mechanics

Every enemy's HP, Sha-Chi, attack and Sha-Chi attack are multiplied by the game's monster curve for its level. At level 10 HP is ×6.07; at level 25 HP is ×18.51, Sha-Chi ×12.79, attack ×2.92 and Sha-Chi attack ×1.88.

Multiplier = 1 + curve(level), from the CV_AttributeCurve_Monster curves; level 1 is the base value. Difficulty modifiers live in the game's code and are not included.

An enemy's level is the level of the area it stands in. Each region is split into areas with their own level; later visits to a region can run much higher.

From the game's area level table; areas are matched to regions by where their enemies spawn.

Regular enemies use one of 3 reward rows. At level 1 the lowest row pays up to 110 Dust per kill; at level 25 it pays 1,810, and the richest row pays 5,410.

• Low reward (28 enemies), e.g. Blackwater Angler, Brute, Frenzied Hound, "Simple Brother", Armored Madwoman
• Medium reward (42 enemies), e.g. Heavy Crossbowman, Shadow Assassin, Alloy Cannon Puppet, Drowned Thief, Heartless Healer
• High reward (28 enemies), e.g. Faceless Swordsman Captain, Hunter, Corrupted Brute, Faceless Spearman Captain, Gold Mask

Rows are grouped from each enemy's own loot curve; the names Low / Medium / High are ours. Bosses pay fixed, much larger amounts.

Four difficulties, with the game's own descriptions. The difficulty is chosen when you start and cannot be switched freely during a playthrough.

• Wayfarer

  Take Your First Steps into the Wulin.

  A gentler path through the Wulin. Focus on the story, take in the world, fight at your own pace.

  Cannot be changed during the playthrough; the achievements for finishing on Pathbreaker or Hellwalker cannot be unlocked, and 66 Days stays locked.

• Pathbreaker

  Carve your own path through the Wulin, without losing yourself to the blade.

  A true test of skill. For those who've swung a blade before and are ready for a real fight.

• Hellwalker

  Defy heaven's will. Death waits around every corner.

  The ultimate trial. Enemies strike without mercy, adapt without warning, and hold nothing back.

• 66 Days

  66 days only. Every step could be your last.

  Unlocked after completing the game on any other difficulty.

  You cannot switch to 66 Days after starting a game, and its difficulty cannot be changed once begun.

Texts from the game's difficulty screen. The exact damage and HP multipliers of each mode are not in the data files, so this site's numbers never include them.

How many of the 74 bosses and 101 enemies take extra damage from, resist or ignore each element. Lightning is the most common boss weakness (26 bosses).

Status build-up on bosses

Counts from each boss's and enemy's resistance table. Frost is measured as duration, the other statuses as build-up speed.

How to read resistances

Every boss and enemy page lists the same three tables. What the numbers mean:

• Element +30% = it takes 30% more damage from that element (a weakness); −30% = 30% less; Immune = no damage from it.
• Status +30% = that status builds up 30% faster on it; −30% = 30% slower. For Frost the value changes how long Frost lasts.
• Sha-Chi interactions change how much Sha-Chi the enemy loses when you Parry it, hit it or hit its guard: a resist there means Guard Break takes longer.
• Status build-up usually follows the matching element (Burn with Fire, Shock with Lightning, Soaked with Water), but not always, so check both tables.

Combat controls glossary

The input names weapon and Phantom Edge move lists use, and what the tutorials teach about each.

• Light AttackStrings Standard Combos, the main way to drain an enemy's Sha-Chi. Pressed right after a Perfect Dodge, Parry, Guard Break or kill, it can trigger a Quick Pursuit on a distant enemy (talent). Named in 156 weapon and Edge move descriptions.
• Heavy AttackThe second attack. With a talent, a Heavy Attack made with too little Sha-Chi spends what is left on an enhanced attack. Named in 126 weapon and Edge move descriptions.
• Sha-Chi AttackSha-Chi Combos: they break guard faster but cost Sha-Chi. Held with some weapons, it charges the attack. Named in 36 weapon and Edge move descriptions.
• StanceHold for Guard Stance (drains Sha-Chi); press at the exact moment of impact to Perfect Block. Named in 13 weapon and Edge move descriptions.
• Phantom EdgeUses your Phantom Edge; the tutorial uses it to unleash a Power Surge, which consumes one Sha-Chi Essence. Named in 35 weapon and Edge move descriptions.
• DodgeBackstep or directional Dodge. Timed on a Red-flash Attack it is a Perfect Dodge and triggers a Ghoststep.
• Switch WeaponSwitches weapons and fully restores Sha-Chi, on a short cooldown.

Data: Phantom Blade Zero 26367565 (CL-302256, UE 5.7.4). How we source this